Method for reconstituting an injection liquid and an injection appliance for carrying out such a method

Abstract

An injection device has a housing ( 42 ) for receiving a container ( 50 ) having a liquid ( 49; 226′ ). In said container ( 50 ), a piston ( 90 ) is displaceably arranged so that by means of pressure upon the distal end of said piston ( 90 ), liquid can be expelled from the container ( 50 ). Arranged displaceably in the housing ( 42 ) is a tappet ( 92 ), which is configured for contact against the distal end of the piston ( 90 ) and which enables transfer of a force to the piston ( 90 ) in the proximal direction. Associated with the tappet ( 92 ) and displaceable relative thereto is a member ( 91 ) which at its proximal end region can be joined to the piston ( 90 ) in such a way that it enables the transfer of a force in the proximal direction and the transfer of a force in the distal direction to the piston ( 90 ).

1 . An injection device, 
 comprising a housing ( 42 ) for receiving a container ( 50 ) comprising a liquid ( 49 ;  226 ;);    in which container ( 50 ) a piston ( 90 ) is displaceably arranged so that by means of pressure upon the distal end of said piston ( 90 ), liquid can be expelled from the container ( 50 );    comprising a tappet ( 92 ), displaceably arranged in the housing ( 42 ), which is configured for contact against the distal end of the piston ( 90 ) and which enables transfer of a force to the piston ( 90 ) in the proximal direction;    and comprising a member ( 91 ), associated with the tappet ( 92 ) and displaceable relative thereto, which at its proximal end region can be joined to the piston ( 90 ) in such a way that it enables the transfer of a force in the proximal direction and the transfer of a force in the distal direction to the piston ( 90 ).    
     
     
         2 . The injection device according to  claim 1 , wherein the displaceable member ( 91 ) is equipped at its distal end region with a coupling apparatus ( 124 ).  
     
     
         3 . The injection device according to  claim 2 , wherein the coupling apparatus ( 124 ) serves for detachable connection to an extension member ( 126 ) which is configured in order to extend the displaceable member ( 91 ).  
     
     
         4 . The injection device according to one or more of the foregoing claims, wherein the displaceable member ( 91 ) is arranged displaceably in a recess ( 114 ) of the tappet ( 92 ).  
     
     
         5 . The injection device according to  claim 4 , wherein the displaceable member ( 91 ) is guided nonrotatably in the recess ( 114 ) of the tappet ( 92 ).  
     
     
         6 . The injection device according to  claim 4  or  5 , wherein at least one stop (FIG. 11:  118 ,  119 ) is associated with the displaceable member ( 91 ) in order to limit its axial movement relative to the tappet ( 92 ).  
     
     
         7 . The injection device according to one of the foregoing claims, wherein the tappet is configured as a toothed rod ( 92 ).  
     
     
         8 . The injection device according to  claim 7 , wherein an adjusting member ( 105 ) is provided which is equipped with at least one resilient ratchet tooth ( 184 ′,  186 ′) for resilient engagement with the teeth ( 104 ) of the toothed rod ( 92 ).  
     
     
         9 . The injection device according to  claim 8 , wherein the at least one resilient ratchet tooth ( 184 ′,  186 ′) of the adjusting member ( 105 ) has associated with it a cam control system ( 140 ,  142 ) which, controlled by the axial position of the adjusting member ( 105 ) relative to the housing ( 42 ), blocks a resilient deflection of said at least one ratchet tooth ( 184 ′,  186 ′).  
     
     
         10 . The injection device according to one of claims  7  through  9 , wherein the container ( 50 ) is axially displaceable relative to the housing ( 42 ) in order to enable, by displacement of the container ( 50 ), an insertion motion into the skin of the patient of a hollow needle ( 268 ) connected to the container ( 50 ).  
     
     
         11 . The injection device according to  claim 10 , wherein at least one resilient ratchet tooth ( 138 ,  139 ) which rests elastically against teeth ( 104 ) of the toothed rod ( 92 ) is joined to the displaceable container ( 50 ).  
     
     
         12 . The injection device according to  claim 11 , wherein the at least one resilient ratchet tooth ( 138 ,  139 ) of the container ( 50 ) has associated with it a cam control system ( 140 ,  142 ) which, controlled by the axial position of the container ( 50 ) relative to the housing ( 42 ), blocks a resilient deflection of said at least one ratchet tooth ( 138 ,  139 ).  
     
     
         13 . The injection device according to one of claims  7  through  12 , wherein a connection ( 136 ,  137 ) influenced by the axial position of the container ( 50 ) relative to the housing ( 42 ) is provided between the displaceable container ( 50 ) and the toothed rod ( 92 ).  
     
     
         14 . The injection device according to one of the foregoing claims, wherein a signal member ( 131 ) that is actuable by means of the reconstitution operation is provided.  
     
     
         15 . The injection device according to one or more of the foregoing claims, having a spring ( 200 ) for the storage of energy for an injection, which spring ( 200 ) can be cocked by displacement of an adjusting member ( 105 ) in the distal direction, 
 and having a latching member ( 53 ,  66 ) for releasable-latching of the adjusting member ( 105 ) in this displaced position.    
     
     
         16 . The injection device according to  claim 15 , wherein at least one cam ( 140 ,  142 ), which in the displaced position of the adjusting member ( 105 ) activates a position-dependent mechanical connection ( 136 ,  137 ) between the toothed rod ( 92 ) and container ( 50 ), is provided in the housing ( 42 ).  
     
     
         17 . The injection device according to one or more of the foregoing claims, wherein the container ( 50 ) has associated with it a holder ( 74 ) which is displaceable axially in the housing ( 42 ) between a proximal and a distal end position and is configured to receive the container ( 50 ).  
     
     
         18 . The injection device according to  claim 17 , wherein the length of the holder ( 74 ) is modifiable.  
     
     
         19 . The injection device according to  claim 18 , wherein the holder ( 74 ) has a proximal segment ( 76 ) and a distal segment ( 78 ) which are joined to one another by means of an adjustable connection ( 77 ) that enables a modification of the overall length of the holder ( 74 ).  
     
     
         20 . The injection device according to  claim 19 , wherein the adjustable connection comprises a micro-ratchet ( 77 ) which connects a proximal segment ( 76 ) and a distal segment ( 78 ) of the holder ( 74 ) to one another in adjustable fashion.  
     
     
         21 . The injection device according to one or more of claims  17  through  20 , wherein the holder ( 74 ) is equipped in its distal region with stop means ( 80 ) which define its proximal and/or its distal end position relative to the housing ( 42 ); 
 and in which the length adjustment of the holder ( 74 ) is accomplished relative to said stop means, so that upon a change in length of the holder ( 74 ), the position of the container ( 50 ) relative to the toothed rod ( 92 ) is modified.  
 
     
     
         22 . The injection device according to one or more of the foregoing claims, wherein a dose-setting part ( 58 ) that is displaceable in the longitudinal direction relative to the housing ( 42 ) has latch means ( 66 ) for snap-locking of a latching element ( 53 ).  
     
     
         23 . The injection device according to  claim 22 , wherein a member ( 62 ) for releasing the snap-locking between the latch means ( 66 ) and the latching element ( 53 ) is provided on the displaceable dose-setting part ( 58 ).  
     
     
         24 . The injection device according to  claim 22  or  23 , wherein there is provided on the housing ( 42 ) a threaded sleeve ( 52 ) which is rotatable but not axially displaceable relative to it, which is in engagement with a thread ( 56 ) on the displaceable dose-setting part ( 58 ).  
     
     
         25 . The injection device according to one or more of claims  22  through  24 , wherein the displaceable dose-setting part ( 58 ) is not rotatable relative to the housing ( 42 ).  
     
     
         26 . A method for reconstituting an injection liquid in an injection device for subsequent use of the reconstituted injection liquid in said device, 
 which injection device has 
 a housing for receiving a cartridge, equipped with a piston, for a liquid;  
 a tappet for impinging upon said piston in the context of an injection; and  
 a member that is displaceable relative to said tappet and can be joined to the piston,  
   having the following steps: 
 a) a container that contains one component for reconstitution of the injection liquid is brought into liquid communication with the cartridge;  
 b) by displacement of the displaceable member in a defined direction, liquid is pumped out of the cartridge into said container in order to reconstitute the injection liquid therein;  
 c) by displacement of the displaceable member in a direction opposite to the defined direction, the reconstituted liquid is sucked back out of the container into the cartridge;  
 d) the container is removed.  
   
     
     
         27 . The method according to  claim 26 , wherein in step c) the displaceable member is displaced in the direction opposite to the defined direction until the piston comes into contact against the tappet.  
     
     
         28 . The method according to  claim 26  or  27 , wherein as a result of the action of energy stored in a spring, a hollow injection needle joined to the cartridge is inserted, and injection liquid is injected after the insertion, 
 insertion of the hollow injection needle by means of the stored energy being accomplished first by mechanical direct drive of the hollow injection needle and then by hydraulic force transfer by means of pressure elevation in the cartridge.